Improvement in wire racks for exhibiting shirts



w. n PHELAN. Wire-Rack for Exhibiting Shirts.

N0, $4,325. Patentedlune8,i875.

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UNITED WILLIAM D. PHELAN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 164,325, dated June 8,1875; application filed May 17, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM 1). PHELAN, of the city of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Racks for Shirts, &c.; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to .the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, in which Figure l is a perspective view of the rack.

This invention relates to a rack of simple construction for holding shirts, 850., While on exhibition in store-windows or such places. It consists in so bending two wires as to grasp the article firmly, and maintain it in proper upright position, being capable of hanging or standing alone like an easel, the retaininghooks being held to the article by a gum or other resilient spring.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a stout wire, a, is doubled up at the middle into the supporting-hooks b,- then continued upward to a proper distance, bent down, and doubled back into hangers c,- then down and out at right angles, ending in the retaininghooks d. A second wire, a, is bent into the standard f; then upward and around the lateral arms of the wire a, forming eyes 0; then on 4 upward and inward at right angles, the ends meeting, where they either may be soldered or a loop passed over to allow them to slide. The eyes 6 are loose upon the wire a, to allow it free play for adjustment. A gum or other resilient spring, 8, passes. around the two upper ends of wire a.

The shirt, without being unfolded, is placed with the lower edge of the bosom resting in the hooks b, where also the cuffs are exposed to view, and firmly held. The upper part is then inserted between the retaining-hooks d, which are adjustable by the legs 0 and spring 8, which serve to keep the shirt upright and in place. Then the shirt and rack may be hung up by the hooks c, or allowed to stand supported by the standard f and wire at.

Other articles of apparel may be exhibited in like manner by the device without unfolding or in any Way crumpling them, or injuring the appearance they have when nicely laundried.

Having fnlly described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

1. In a rack for displaying shirts, the combination of the two pivoted adjustable frames or sections a a a a, the section a a being formed or provided with retaining loops or devices to hold the shirt in position, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the pivoted frames a a a a, constructed substantially as shown, of the spring 8, as and for the purpose specified.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a shirtrack, consisting of the pivoted adjustable wire frames or sections a a a a, the section a at having the loops b 1) cl d c c and spring 8, and the section a to having the eyes 6, all as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of May, 1875.

WILLIAM D. PHELAN.

Witnesses PETER KREUTER, T. J. MOTIGHE. 

